So what is this page about? Well, in many ways it is about the differences between the films and the book, and why the adaptation is so good. It's about what I thought of the film(s), and about some background to the art design.
First things first, I really enjoyed Fellowship on the big screen, and think the extended DVD version even better. Of course there have been significant changes from the book, but I think they are justifiable by the demands of the medium (see below). I am continually amazed (and it is an indication of the quality of Tolkien's writing) at how similar different people's visions of Tolkien are. I look back to what I drew in the '70s (see the Artwork section), and the similarity to the vision in PJ's films is there! I thought all the characters were well realised. Frodo was protrayed as a rather younger character which actually made him fit in better with the group. In character Merry and Pippin were very close to the book, with Merry a tad more mature and hence the natural ringleader of the pair, and Pippin's cheerful insouciance continually landing him in trouble. Sam's steadfastness was well portrayed, though there was less of the master/servant (in deference to 21st century sensitivities?) Gandalf was perfect! (Well done, Ian McKellan.) And Saruman ... the master of evil strikes again!
Appearance wise, the only major change from the book was to make Boromir fair, but this is fairly minor. Legolas and Gimli were not described in detail in the book, but fit well with what is there. The character of Aragorn was probably the biggest change, but it worked, and added a bit more character-story to the film.
Was there anything I didn't like? Well, I found the wizard's battle a bit much. Violence is the first resort of the incompetent, and here we have two of the most competent beings slugging it out! It also led directly to a logical continuity problem (work it out!) in a film with remarkably few of them. Other bloops are fairly minor and I don't want to spoil the film for other people by pointing them out.
I concur with popular opinion on the quality of the sets, miniatures, special effects, and final print preparation.
Return to Index
Background: The device of Idril Celebrindal, from the dust cover of 'The Silmarillion' (1977). Image used without permission.
Last update 11/12/02
Copyright © Susan H Law, 2002, and her licensors. All rights reserved.